Zac Lomax’s future becomes clear as meeting set following R360 disaster

Zac Lomax’s footy future is becoming increasingly clear as the rep winger set a meeting with an Aussie club as he seeks a contract for 2026.

Zac Lomax’s prospects of making an NRL return seem incredibly slim, with the former Eels star now looking at making a permanent code switch to rugby.

The 26-year-old reportedly met with the Western Force Super Rugby club after the failed launch of R360.

Lomax — who left the Parramatta Eels with the expectation that he’d sign a deal worth ludicrous money with the rebel competition – jetted to Perth on Tuesday for a meeting with Force coaches and staff, according to CODE Sports.

However, in a brutal blow, he would be on less than a quarter of the money he left at Parramatta.

It is understood he would earn around $150,000 a season, a far cry from the $625,000 he was on at the Eels.

The rep winger has also been exploring deals to play rugby in Europe or Japan, on what would be far more lucrative deals.

Zac Lomax's route back to the NRL is blocked. Image: Getty

NRL chief Peter V’landys said he and Ryan Papenhuyzen would be welcomed back to the league after being hoodwinked by R360.

“Naturally, Ryan and Zac are most welcome to come back,” V’landys told AAP.

“They were just victims of the mirage. (It’s) no surprise. Their current business model was never going to work. It’s a shame so many people were hoodwinked.”

However, it is far harder for Lomax to do so given he could only return to the Eels.

That’s because, as a condition of his release, he can’t play for another club until the 2029 season unless the Eels permit him to do so.

So therefore, his only path back to the league in the next three seasons is in the blue and gold.

And that is also looking like a long shot.

Jason Ryles is understood to prefer to spend the money freed up by letting him go on forwards and spine members, feeling outside backs are far more available and cheaper.

It is a message rugby league journalist Michael Chammas also echoed on Triple M.

“I don’t think Parramatta are going to be (interested in getting Lomax back),” Chammas said.

“They think that money can be better spent elsewhere on the roster … There will be half a dozen teams who will fall over to sign Zac Lomax. And it’s not like he was on a huge deal at the Eels, what was it 650 – 700 (thousand).”

Originally published as Zac Lomax’s future becomes clear as meeting set following R360 disaster